Tire chain



HAWSQT Nov. 13 '1923.

l| B. sERvls ET' AL.

TIRE CHAIN VFiled July 18. 1922 Patented Nov., i3, i923.

esta aras LELAND B. SERVIS,.HERMAN IP. RANDALL, AND S Q SHANNON, OIE' LOS ANGELES,

CALIFORNIA; SAID RANDALL AND SAD SHANNDN ASSIGNORS TO SAID SERVIS.

TIRE CHAIN.

' 10 all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, LELAND B. SERVIS, HERMAN P. RANDALL, and S Q SHANNON, citizens of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have inventednew and useful Improvements in Tire Chains', of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tire chains of the l@ nature employed in rainy or muddy weather to prevent the tires of automobiles, trucks or similar vehicles from skidding. Hitherto, in applying' these chains or non-skid devices to a tire, it has been necessary` eitherto jack up the car, free the wheel or tire from the ground, or it has been necessary to run the car on to the chain. Particularly, under the conditions of weather, etc., in Which these chains are required, such operations are very disagreeable.

An object of our invention is to provide a chain which may be attached to the tire without any suoli operations, and which will be self adjusting and may be more easily linked together than any such chain or device hitherto employed.

Another object of our invention is to provide a tire chain with slakable or adjustable Vtransverse members which will facilitate the attaching` of the chain to the tire, and a further object of our invention is to provide a means whereby these sl'acked transverse members may be drawn or tightened up and the chainftightened or properly adapted to the tire. j

A further object of our invention is to provide such a device with a catch which will prevent a subsequent slacking' or looseningof these transverse members if the tightening means are removed. j

Other objects of our invention will he more readily understood from the following description and drawings showing a tire chain embodying the principles of our invention. Y

Figure l illustrates the chain attached to a tire in the final tightened position.

Fig'. 2 illustrates the slaclrable transverse members in tneposition proper for attaeln ing' the chain to the tire. y

Fig. 3 illustrates these slaclrable members 1922. Serial No. 575,789.

in the position which they will occupy after the final tighteningon to the tire.

F 1g. 4: illustrates one of the slaclrable members after the removal of the tension spring,

held in position by the catch.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the catch employed on this chain.

The chain may consist of two circumferential chains or members l and 2 adapted to 60 fit around each side of t-he tire. They are provided with a plurality of transverse members 3 connecting` the two circumferential chains. rllhese transverse members 8 may consist of simple inter-connecting links as shown or of any of the variety of transverse members or sections in common use. The circumferential members l and 2 are provided at their ends with fasteners 4t for attaching the chain to the tire. At the point of the chain where it is joined together, there are provided slaclrable transverse members 5 which are fastened at one end 6 to the circumferential member 2 and loosely connected by a suitable means such as a ring 7` to the second circumferential member l. and further loosely connected to a similar ring 8 at a second spaced position on said circumferential member l and therefrom loosely connected through a third ring 9 on 90 the first circumferential member 2. The slaclrable transverse members 5 are preferably provided at their free ends with rings 10. The transverse members 5 are of suitable length to permit a slackening of the members through the rings 7, 8 and 9 to form an opening` such as shown inligr. 2 and which will permit the chain to be readily attached by the fastener 4, while thetire is resting" on the around and without the necessity of movingthe tire.

rlhere vis provided some suitable means for placingA tension on the slaclrable transverse members whereby they will be tightened and the chain attached to the tire during' its 95 rotation. This means preferably consists of springs ll which may be attached to the rings l0 and connected to the chain at the position on the tire opposite the connecting point. The members 5 may be provided if 100 desired' with catches 19 for preventing a subsequent release or slaclrenina' of the chain.

These catches may be of any construction which will pass through the rings 9 in one direction but which are adaptable to engage the rings in the reverse direction. As shown in Fie'. 5 this catch may be composed of two complementary parts i3 and la held in nosition by a spring 15.

In' attaching the chain to the tire the chain is placed around the tire with the connecting ends at the bottom of the tire. By loosening the slack of the transverse members 5 the circumferential members l and 2 may be connected by their fasteners 4:. The springs 1l are then attached to the rings l0 of the slacked transverse members 5 and stretched to engage the chain at a point opposite the tire as shown in Fig. l. The attaching of the chain to the tire is then completed. Upon rotation of the tire the springs will draw the slack from the members 5 and the chain will be held in a tightened position as shown in Fig. l. The catches l2 will have passed through the rings 9 and will be in position so that on the removal of the springs Il. either bv accident or otherwise. the members will be prevented from slacking and the chain will be held on the tire. While in actual operation we have found it impossible to throw oif the springs 'l1 by the operation of the vehicle, this catch l2 may be employed las a safety device.

Thile we have shown the transverse members 5 connected through the three rings 7, S and 9', wherein they will traverso the tire twice, it can be readily seen that by taking the free ends from the rings 7 slaclrable transverse members are provided, or the members might pass through furtheraings and traverse the tire three or more times7 permitting further slackening of the chain. The preferable arrangement of these tansverse members 5 is, however. that as shown in the drawings and already described.

We find it preferable in using the chain to have the fastener 4L. which is attached to the member 2, permanently closed, it being sufficient in the attachment of the chain that only the rear fastener 4; should be open. In fact, the circumferential member 2 might be one continuous chain.

It is understood that while the herein de- Y scribed chain is well suited for the purposes of our invention, our invention is not limited to the particular embodiment shown but is of the scope set forth in the following i claims.

slacked member and tightening the chain upon rotation of the tire, and a catch adapted to prevent a subsequent slacking of said transverse member.

3. In a tire chain, a circumferentially extending member for each side of a tire7 a transverse member connected to one of said circumferential members and loosely connected to a second circumferential member whereby the member may be slaclred7 a spring for placing tension on said transverse member whereby the chain may be tightened upon rotation of the tire.

4:. In a tire chain, a transverse member loosely connected .to one of the circumferential members whereby the transverse member is adaptable to being slaclred in attaching the chain to a tire, and a catch for preventing said transverse member being slacked after the chain has been attached to the tire.

5. In a tire chain, a circumferentially eX- tending member for each side the tire, and a transverse member connected to one of said circumferential members, and loosely 'connected to the second circumferential member in two places and loosely connected again to the first circumferential member whereby the transverse member is slaclrable.

6. In a tire chain, a circumferentiallyextending member for each side the tire, and a transverse member connected to one of said circumferential members, and loosely connected to the second circumferential member in two places and loosely connected again to the first circumferential member whereby the transverse Vmember is slaclrable, and means for placing tension on said slaclrable `member to tightenA itduring rotation of the-V tire.

Y. In atirechain, a circumferentia-liy extending member for each sidethe tire, and a transversemember connected to one of said circumferential members, and loosely con-Y nected to V'the second circumferential mei ber in two places and VlooselyV connected a ain to the first circumferential member w ereby the transverse member is slackable, and a catch positioned to prevent the subsequent slacking of the member. i

8. In a tire chain, means forV slacking a transverse member when applying'the chain to a tire and a spring adapted to being connected with said transverse member'and'attached to the chain opposite said transverse member for tightening the chain during rotation of the tire. y. Y

9. In a tire chain, a circumferential member for each side of the tire, and a transverse vmember looselyfconnected to one ofthe circumferential members whereby the length of said member intermediate the circumferential members may be increased when att-aching the chain to a tire.v

10. In a tire chain, a circumferential inember for each side of the tire, a plurality of bers may be increased in attaching the chain spaced transverse members interconnecting to a tire. 10 said circumferential members, and atrans- Signed at Los Angeles, California, this verse member positioned at an end of the 6th day of ,1111551922 circumferential members and loosely connected to one of the circumferential members, LELAND B. SERVIS.v

whereby the length of said transverse memc HERMAN P. RANDALL.

ber intermediate the circumferential mem- S Q SHANNON. 

